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, MARINE SIGNALINGSAPPARATUS. Y N0. 577,088. Y Y 4 Patented Feb. 416, 1897.I

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. "MARINE SIGNALING' APPARATUS. No. 577,088.- PatentedPeb. -16; 1897;

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MARINE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 577,088. Paten-ted Feb. 1e, 189.7.;

. is used as fog-signals on steam or sailing ves- UNITED STATES- PATENT GEEICE.

JAMES HENRY WALKER, oE HARTLEPooL, ENGLAND.

MARINE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIN forming part of Letters Fatent No. 577,088, dated February 16, 1897.

Application filed April 2, 1896.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J AMES HENRY WALKER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Hartlepool, county of Durham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in steam or air Whistles and their operating mechanism, and especially to that class which sels, where it is important to provide regularity and certainty in the blowing of the whistle to indicate the position of the vessel andthe direction of the movement of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide whistles of different tones andan apparatus for operating same with steam or air to be suppliedfrom a steam-boiler or from a bellows or air-chamber by means of clockwork or .weights or other suitable means which would secure a constant supply of the pressure medium whenneeded, said apparatus `being so constructed and arranged that its operation is mechanically accurate and controlled by the wheelman or by an operator, using the course of the vessel as a guide in directing the mechanism employed.

With a code of signals provided my invention will enable seamen to determine the position and course of approaching vessels in the densest fogs, and thus disastrous collisions may be averted.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure lis a rear view of my improved fog signaling apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the main cylinders and their connections. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the auxiliary cylinder. Fig. 4 isa vertical sectional View of the auxiliary cylinder on a line at right angles with the view shown in Fig. 8. Figs. 5 and G are details; and Fig. 7 is an interior view of the main plug or shell, the same being divided vertically for the betterillustration of the location of the ports.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

Serial No. 585,980. (No model.)

My improved signaling apparatus is supported by a standard or base 1, by means of which it is bolted or otherwise secured to the deck of a vessel, preferably under the wheelhouse. Resting on the base l or formed as a part thereof is a horizontal truncated cone 2, having its base open and provided with threads on the inside of the rim for the reception of the threaded cap 8. Along one side of the cone 2 are four ports 5, Which eX- tend through the bosses or projections., each Aof which communicates with a pipe 6, steam or air tight connections being made between said bosses and said pipes.

On the upper side of the cone 2 is a vertical circular chamber 7, having its lower diameter slightly less than its upper and provided with four ports 9, which communicate with a corrresponding number of bosses S, with which the pipes 6 from the cone 2 communicate by steam-tight connections. The upper portion of the chamber 7 is interiorly threaded for the reception of a screw-cap 10, which is centrally perforated for a purpose which will be explained. In the lower portion of the chamber 7 is an opening 11, which communicates with a pipe-elbow 12, to the upper end of which is coupled the chamber 13, having a central opening 14 in its bottom, with which the pipe 12 communicates. Said chamber is open at the top and has its rim threaded on the inside to receive a screw-cap 15. Said cap is provided with a central recess 16, which is threaded to receive a plug 17, having a central opening 19, which serves as a bearing for thel stem 20, which also passes through an opening in the cap 15.

` On the upper end of the stem 2O is carried Aa nut 2l, and on the lower end a hollow plug 22, having a vertical central opening 23 and radial ports 24, which when the plug is revolved register consecutively with the openings 25 and 26 on the opposite sides vof the chamber 13, as shown in Fig. 4. From the openings 25 and 26 and formed as parts' of the chamber 13 extend bosses 27, which connect with the pipes 28, which lead,\respectively, to the whistles 29 and 30, the former being preferably shrill or sharp toned and the latter heavy or deep toned.4

Fitting within the truncated cone 2 and con'- forming in shape thereto is the shell 31, hav- IOO ing at different points in its side openings 32, 33, 34, and 35, said openings being 'so placed as to register consecutively with the ports 5 in the cone when the shell is revolved. In the annular depression 60 in the base 36 of the shell 3l are openings 37, which are concentric with a shaft38, which extends outwardly from the center of the shell 3l, passes through the center of the cap 3 and plug 40, and communicates with any suitable driving power.

In the cap 3 near its rim is an opening 4l, threaded for the reception of the coupling 42, to which is secured the supply-pipe conveying steam Ior air to the apparatus.

Fitting within the chamber 7 is the open plug 43, having at opposite points in its side ports 44. From the center of the plug 43, formed therewith and extending upwardly, is a shaft 45, which passes through the screwcap lO and through the jam-nut 46 on the top of said cap, the upper end of'said shaft being threaded to carry an extension 49, which runs through and above the upper deck of the vessel. Keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft 45, between the jam-nut 46 and the extensionstem 49, is a tripper 48, the outer end of which is pointed, as shown in Fig. 5. Mounted on the extension-stem 49, near its upper end, is a wheel 50, having hand-pins 5l, by means of which it may be turned an d operate the shafts 45 and 49. Below the wheel 50 and surrounding the shaft 49 is the spool 54, the bottom flange of which is secured to the deck, and to the upper flange 56 is secured the dial-plate 57?, having indicated on its face the different points of the compass. Above said dial-plate and mounted on a squared portion of the stem 49 is the index-finger or pointer 53. The outer end of the plate 57 is perforated to admit the upper end of the rod 56, the lower end of which is coupled to the stem 2O by means of the nut 2l, as shown in Fig. 3. Below this nut and keyed to the stem 20 is a catch 57, having its outer end notched, as at 58, said catch being mounted so as to bring it directlyT opposite the tripper 4S, the pointed end of which engages the notched end of the catch as the tripper revolves. On the upper end of the stem 56 is a pointer 61, Which moves on the face of the outer end of the plate 57, upon which are indicated the points of the compass.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: Steam or air under pressure is admitted to the apparatus through the opening` 41 in the cap 3 and passes through the ports 37 into the shell 31. This shell is revolved by means of a spring-motor or other suitable power, which is preferably independent of the power used for driving the vessel. The officer in charge of the whistle is stationed at the wheel 50, and his manipulation of this wheel is governed by the course that the vessel is steered. A code of whistle-signals to indicate the vessels course is in force. If the vessel is headed north northeast and the code provides for blowing two shi-.ill blasts to indicate to approaching vessels such course, the 'officer in charge will turn the wheel 50 until the pointer 53 registers with that course on the dial 57 n. As wheel 50 is fast on the shaft 40 the latter must turn with it and revolve the plug 7, to

which it is secured, so that one of the ports 9 will register with the upper end of the pipe 6, which registers at its lower end with the two ports 5 in the shell 3l. At each revolution of the shell 3l two blasts will be blown,

y provided the ports leading to the whistle are not blanked. Said ports are controlled as follows: The tripper 48 is placed on the shaft 49 in position to engage the catch 57 on the shaft 56 and throw it to the right or the left, as the pointer 53 is moved to points east or west, respectively. The catch 57 being keyed to the rod or shaft 56, the latter turns with it and revolves the plug or shell 22, thus causing one of the ports in said shell to register with one of the pipes leading to the whistles. If the catch is thrown so as to open the port leading to the shrill whistle and the vessels course is changed to west, the wheel 50 is reversed, and thus the tripper is carried reversely to its first movement, rengages the catch 57, and throws it in a position opposite to its first position, and thereby registers a port in the plug 22 with the pipe leading to the dull or heavy whistle. It will thus be seen that the parts 50, 49, and 7 do not revolve, but oscillate.

It will be understood that my apparatus provides for eight signals, four on an easterly course and four on a westerly course. It is of course designed for use in connection with an established code similar to the one now in use. It will also be apparent that the apparatus may be used for other than marine purposes, and that the number of ports in the shell may be multiplied, and that more than two whistles may be used without any alteration of the arrangement of parts herein described or modification of the principles involved in my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a signaling apparatus the combination with a suitable base, of a cone-shaped chamber provided with openings for the admission and emission of air or steam, a hollow shell or plug fitting within said chamber and provided with openings registering with the openings in the chamber as the plug is revolved, a hollow circular chamber formed with or secured to said cone-shaped chamber, a series of pipes communicating with the openings in said chamber and the circular chamber respectively, a hollow plug fitting w-ithin said circular chamber and having ports in the side thereof and provided with a stem by means of which it may be revolved, a smaller auxiliary chamber connected with said vcircular chamber by a pipe, a hollow plug fitting said auxiliary chamber and provided with a IOO stem for turning same, means for operating the various plugs described, and a sound-producing device connected with said auxiliary chamber and operable by means of air or steam under pressure, for the purposes set forth.

A2. `In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a suitable support of a series of chambers having steam or air passages therein hollow plugs fitting said chambers and having openings registering with the openings in their respective chambers as said plugs are revolved, pipes connecting said chambers with each other, means for revolving said plugs and a sound-producing device connected with one of said chambers and operable by means of air or steam passing through said chambers, plugs and pipes substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a suitable base, of a cone-shaped chamber having in its base aninlet-opening and in its side a series of outlet-openings, a hollow plug fitting said chamber, having a series of openings in its side and other openings in one end, and provided with a stem for revolving said plu g upon the application of suitable power thereto, a hollow circular chamber on one side of the cone-shaped chamber, having a series of ports in its side, pipes oommunicating between said ports and the openings iu the side of the cone-shapedl chamber, a hollow open plug fitting said circular chamber, having ports or openings in its side registering with the openings in the said chamber as said plug is revolved, and provided with a stem for revolving the plug, a vertical shaft connected with said stem, a wheel for turning said shaft a plate mounted on said shaft on which are indicated the points of the compass, a pipe communicating with an opening in the lower part of the circular chamber and with the bottom of a cup-shaped auX- iliary chamber 13, said chamber having an opening in its side, an open hollow plug iitting said chamber and having ports registering with said opening successively, and provided with a stem by means of which it may be revolved, means for automatically turning said stem consisting of a catch and a trigger, an index-finger on the end of said stem, a steam-outlet pipe from said chamber 13 and a device for producing sounds by the action of steam or air under pressure, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HENRY VALKER. Vtnesses:

THEO. L. GATOHEL, M. LARMAN. 

